Tamper-proof plug and tool for fluid line



y 1968 F. H. MUELLER ETAL 3,382,888

TAMPER'PROOF PLUG AND TOOL FOR FLUID LINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 OriginalFiled Dec. 7, 1965 May 14, 1968 F. H. MUELLER ETAL 3,382,888

TAMPER-PROOF PLUG AND TOOL FOR FLUID LINE Original Filed Dec. 7, 1963 4Sheets-Sheet 2 y 1968 F. H. MUELLER ETAL 3,382,388

TAMPER'PROOF PLUG AND TOOL FOR FLUID LINE 4 Sheets-Sheet :5

Original Filed Dec.

y 1968 F. H. MUELLER ETAL 3,382,888

TAMPER'PROOF PLUG AND TOOL FOR FLUID LINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 OriginalFiled Dec.

United States Patent 3,382,888 TAMPER-PROOF PLUG AND TOOL FOR FLUID LINEFrank H. Mueller and John J. Smith, Decatur, 111., as-

signors to Mueller Co., Decatur, 111., a corporation of IllinoisGriginal application Dec. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 331,212, now Patent No.3,296,861, dated Ian. 10, 1967. Divided and this application Aug. 8,1966, Ser. No. 571,110

7 Claims. (Cl. 137-327) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tamper-proof plugand special tool for a fluid line wherein the driving connection betweensaid plug and tool is characterized by cooperating uneven surfaces withno sharp protrusions, angles, or edges which may be grasped or wedged bypliers or other simple tools, and wherein the plug may be turned onlyafter the tool has been securely affixed to said plug so as to makeslippage impossible. Means for securing the tool to the plug are alsodisclosed. The preferred means being an internal bore in the plug withthreads to cooperate with external threads of a center rod within thespecial tool and extendable therefrom through the center of the surfacewhich cooperates with the plug.

This application is a divisional application of our copendingapplication Ser. No. 331,212 filed Dec. 17, 1963, now United StatesPatent No. 3,296,861 issued Jan. 10, 1967.

The present invention relates to a by-pass type meter installation orsetting and more particularly to an improved arrangement wherein a fluidmeter can be removed from a fluid service line, such as a gas line,without interrupting service.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bypass type metersetting that is substantially tamper-proof.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a by-pass typemeter setting that is simple in construction with resulting economics ofmanufacture and installation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedby-pass type meter setting in which the bypass line includes means forremoving a tamper-proof plug from a by-pass port in a by-pass fitting.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedtype of tamper-proof plug for a by-pass fitting.

Ancillary to the immediately preceding object it is a further object ofthe present invention to provide an improved by-pass line incorporatinga tool for removing a tamper-proof plug from a by-pass fitting after theby-pass line has been connected to the fitting.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will bemore clearly understood from the following detailed specification,claims and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a meter setting embodying the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view of a by-pass line illustrated in FIGURE1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view partly in elevation and illustrating theend of the by-pass line adapted for connection to the by-pass fittinghaving the tamper-proof plug;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the tamperproof plug used in theby-pass fitting disclosed in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4but with the plug rotated on itsaxis 90;

'ice

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the plug looking from the left of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view of the by-pass fitting or meterstop illustrated in FIGURE 1, the valve plug being shown in elevation;

FIGURE 8 is an end view of the by-pass fitting or stop shown in FIGURE7, parts being shown in section; and

FIGURE 9 is a top view of the stop shown in FIGURE 7 with fragmentaryportions broken away to show the tamper-proof plug in position recessedwithin the by-pass port.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a conventional gas meter hasan inlet conduit 22 and an outlet conduit 24 projecting therefrom. Theinlet conduit 22 and the outlet conduit 24 are spaced from each otherand substantially parallel to each other and are secured as by unions 26to nipples 28 and 30, respectively for suspending the same from themeter bar 32. The meter bar 32 may be of the type shown in the copendingapplication of Wilbur R. Leopold, Jr. and John J. Smith, Ser. No.331,213, filed Dec. 17, 1963, now United States Patent No. 3,272,009,issued Sept. 13, 1966, in that it is provided with a bracket (not shown)enabling it to be supported from a vertical Wall 37. The meter bar 32embodies an integral inlet fitting 36 in the form of an elbow and anintegral outlet fitting 38 which includes a by-pass valve arrangement asdisclosed in the aforementioned Leopold and Smith application or asdisclosed in the copending application of Mueller, Ser. No. 229,704,filed Oct. 10, 1962, now United States Patent No. 3,187,570 issued June8, 1965.

A gas supply line generally indicated at 40 and extending from a sourceof supply (not shown) is connected to the inlet fitting 36 of the meterbar 32 whereas a service line 42 extending from the Wall 37 is connecteddirectly to the outlet fitting 38, the service line supplying gas to thehouse piping (not shown).

The gas supply line 40 includes a conventional riser pipe 44 into whichis connected an improved by-pass fitting or meter stop 46 embodying thepresent invention. The meter stop 46, as best shown in FIGURES 7 through9 inclusive, is a rotary plug valve similar to the one disclosed in theUS. patent to Mueller, No. 2,653,791. The stop 46 is connected to thedownstream side of the line 40 by an insulated coupling 48 of the typedisclosed in greater detail in the copending application of Bowan etal., Ser. No. 860,303 filed Dec. 15, 1956, now United States Patent No.3,115,354, issued Dec. 24, 1963. If gas is supplied to the supply line40 under high pressure, such pressure must be lowered before it entersthe residence or a commercial building. For this purpose, a conventionalpressure regulator or reduction valve 50, shown in dotted lines inFIGURE 1, can be connected into the supply line between the meter stop46 and the meter bar 32. The meter stop 46, shown in FIGURES 7 to 9inclusive, is a modification of the lubricating meter stop disclosed inthe aforementioned US. patent to Mueller 2,653,791, as well as thatshown in the aforementioned copending application of Leopold and Smith.The stop 46 includes a body 52 provided with a tapered valve seat 54having diametrically aligned inlet and outlet ports 56 and 58communicating respectively with aligned inlet and outlet passageways 60and 62. The inlet passageway 60 may he provided with interior threads 64for connection to the upstream end of the riser pipe 44 while the valvebody 52 may be provided with exterior threads for engagement of acoupling nut 68 to connect the outlet passageway 62 with the downstreamside of the supply line 40 by the insulated coupling 48, as mentionedabove.

As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 9, the body 52 of c) the stop 46 isprovided with a boss 69 upstream of the valve seat 54. The boss 69 isprovided with a by-pass port 70 communicating directly with a bypasspassageway 72 in the boss 69, the passageway 72 communicating with theinlet passageway 61 The outer end of the passageway 72 is internallythreaded as indicated at 73 and is normally closed by an exteriorlythreaded tamper-proof closure plug 74 when the by-pass passageway is notbeing used. It will be understood that when the by-pass passageway 72 isnot being used and the plug 74 is in position closing the same, it willbe recessed from the by-pass port 78. A dust cap 76 is threaded onto theexternal threads of the boss 69, to cover the by-pass port 78, the cap76 being sealed in position by a seal 78.

The tamper-proof plug 74 is best illustrated in FIG- URES 4, and 6. Theplug 74 is provided with a wedgeshaped end 75 which is defined by a pairof planar surfaces 77 and 79. The planar surfaces 77 and 79 extend at anangle to a radial plane of the plug and have an included angle Atherebetween in the order of 120 so that when the plug is recessed inthe passageway 72 it is impossible for a person, other than one having aspecial tool, to remove the same from the passageway 72. Additionally,the plug 74 is provided with an axial bore 81 in its wedgeshaped end 75,the bore being closed at one end and interiorly threaded as indicated at83 in FIGURES 3 and 6. The purpose of the threaded bore 81 will appearmore fully later in the specification.

Rotatably mounted in the interior of the valve seat 54 is a tapered keyor valve plug 85 provided with a diametric passageway 87 shown in dottedlines in FIGURE 7 and alignable with the inlet and outlet seat ports 56and 58 in the open position of the valve 46 in order to permit flow tothen pass through the inlet and outlet passageways 60 and 62 to the gasmeter 20. The valve plug 85 is also provided with a false port 84 whichregisters with a false port 82 in the valve seat 54. The purpose of thefalse ports 82 and 84 is to eliminate seat and valve plug sealingsurfaces that would be exposed to line fluids with the resultingpossible corrosion of such surfaces in the valve or stop 46. It will beobvious that when the valve plug 85 is turned 90 from the position shownin FIGURE 7 or 9, the valve 46 will be in a closed position as thepassageway 87 will be out of alignment with the passageways 60 and 62.When in this position, there can be no flow of fluid to the meter 26),but there can be flow of fluid to the passageway 72 and therefrom whenthe tamper-proof plug 74 is removed.

As disclosed in greater detail in the aforementioned Mueller Patent No.2,653,791, the valve plug 85 is preferably provided adjacent its largerand smaller ends with circumferential grooves within which are disposedresilient pressure deformable packing rings 86, illustrated in thedrawings as being O-rings, which provide an effective seal between thevalve plug and its valve seat 54 adjacent the opposite ends of thelatter. Longitudinal lubricant channels 88 extend between and connectthe O-ring grooves so as to form therewith a closed lubricant system.Lubricant can be introduced into the system through a radial chargingport 90 (FIGURE 8) in the body 52, the port 90 registering with one ofthe longitudinal grooves 88 with the valve plug 85 in either the open orclosed position. The outer end of the charging port 90 is enlarged andinteriorly threaded to receive a closure plug (not shown). The valveplug 85 is retained in its valve seat 84 by a nut 94 (FIGURES 7 and 8)engaged with a reduced threaded extension 96 on the smaller end of theplug and bearing against a washer 97 which in turn bears against anannular sealing surface on the body 52 and the smaller end of the valveseat 54. Preferably, the washer 97 is locked to the plug 76 by aretaining pin 98 which extends through one side of the washer, throughthe extension 96 on the small end of the plug, and into a blind socketin the other side of the washer, in order to render the valve 46substantially tamper-proof, all as disclosed in greater detail in theaforementioned Mueller patent.

The larger end of the plug is provided with a substantially flatwrench-engageable extension 189 for rotating the plug between the openand closed positions, such extension being aligned with the diametricpassageway 87 in the plug so as to provide an exterior indication of theposition of such passageway 87. The larger end of the plug 85 is alsoprovided with a radial lock-wing 104 having an aperture 106 thereinalignable with a corresponding aperture 198 in a fixed lock-wing 111) onthe body 52 in the closed position of the valve so as to permit theinsertion of a locking device such as a padlock (not shown) through bothsuch apertures in order to lock the valve 46 in its closed position. TheValve body 52 can also be provided with projections (not shown) whichserve as stops to limit rotary movement in the open and closedpositions.

The outlet fitting 38 which is integral with the meter bar 32 isprovided with an interiorly threaded inlet 122 for connection therein ofthe nipple 31) leading to the outlet 24 of the meter 25 The outletfitting 38 is also provided with a lateral outlet 13% which is adaptedto be connected to the service line 42 leading to the house piping.Additionally, the outlet fitting 38 is provided with a by-pass port 134normally closed by a detachable closure (not shown). Within the outletfitting 38 there is provided a spool valve of the type disclosed in thecopending application of Leopold and Smith, as well as in the Muellerapplication, Ser. No. 229,704, filed Oct. 10, 1962, now United StatesPatent No. 3,187,570, issued June 8, 1965, which is operable between anopen position wherein fluid can flow from the meter to the service line42 to a closed position where fluid can flow through the by-pass port134 to the service line 42 with flow from the meter being blocked. Whenthe spool valve is intermediate the open and closed positions, there canbe flow both from the meter 24 and the by-pass port 134 to the serviceline 42. A detailed description of the operation of the spool valvewithin the outlet fitting 38 will not be given herein as such a valve isdisclosed fully in the copending applications of Leopold and Smith andMueller, respectively.

As best shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the by-pass meter setting of thepresent invention is provided with a flexible by-pass line generallydesignated at 150, the by-pass line being adapted to be connected to theboss 69 and to the by-pass port 134. In more detail, the bypass linecontains at its upstream end a plug removing tool generally indicated at152 and at its downstream end with a fitting 154 for connection to theby-pass port 134 in the outlet fitting 38. A pressure regulation 151 maybe provided in the by-pass line 158 if the gas supply line 48 is underhigh pressure and the regulator 50 is required. The fitting 154 isprovided with a bleed valve 157 and with a pressure gauge 158. Thepressure gauge 158 will register the pressure within the line wheneverthe line is connected to the by-pass ports 70 and 134 so that theoperator may have a ready indication of the pressure in the by-passsetting at all times during the operation of repair or replacement ofthe meter 20.

The tool 152 in the upstream end of the by-pass line 150 comprises acollar 159 having an enlarged bore 161 therein interiorly threaded asindicated at 163. The collar 159 is adapted to be threaded onto theexterior threads of the boss 70. Collar 159 is provided with a swivelfitting 165 retained thereon on a lock ring 167. O-rings 169 provide aseal between the swivel fitting 165 and collar 159. An annular groove171 on the interior wall of the swivel fitting 165 communicates withlateral passageways 173 in the collar, the passageways 173 communicatingwith the enlarged bore 161. The swivel fitting 165 is provided with anoffset portion 175 having a passageway 177 therein, communicating withthe groove 171, the passageway 177 being interiorly threaded at 179 forreception of a threaded coupling on a flexible hose 181 of the by-passline 150.

Collar 159 is provided with a bore 183 of reduced diameter as comparedto the enlarged bore 161, the bore 183 being axialy aligned with andcommunicating with the enlarged bore 161. Bore 183 slidably receives atubular shaft 185. A suitable O-ring 187 is provided in an annulargroove in the wall of bore 183 for maintaining a seal with the exteriorsurface of the shaft 185. The tubular shaft 185 extends through thecounterbore into and through the enlarged bore 11 and has on its outerend a fitting 189 which is wedge-shaped and complementary to thewedge-shaped end 75 of the tamper-proof plug 74. A handle 191 is keyedto the other end of the shaft 185 so that the shaft 185 can be rotatedwithin the collar 159. A second shaft 193 is carried within the tubularshaft 185, the shaft 193 extending from both ends of the same. The endof the shaft 193 extending from the end of the shaft 185 having thewedge-shaped fitting 189 therein is exteriorly threaded as indicated at195 whereas the other end of the shaft 193 is provided with a knurledknob or handle 197 so that the shaft 193 can be rotated relative to theshaft 185. It will now be obvious that the tubular shaft 185 and theshaft 193 will he slid axially in the collar as a unit, but cannot bemoved axially relative to one another.

When it is desirous to use the installation for by-passing purposes,with the meter stop 46 in its open position, the by-pass line isconnected, respectively, to the boss 69 and to the by-pass port 134. Ofcourse, the cap 76 on the boss 69 is first removed. When line 150 isconnected, the stop 46 is in its open position, i.e., that is theposition wherein gas flows from the riser pipe 44 through the supplyline 40 to the meter 20, whereas the valve in the outlet fitting 38 isin the position where flow is from the meter through the nipple to theservice pipe 42 with the'by-pass port 134 blocked. After the bypass line150 has been connected as described above, then it is necessary toremove the tamper-proof plug 74 from the bypass passageway 72 so thatthere can be flow of gas into the bore 161 and through the by-pass line150.

The removal of the plug 74 is accomplished by first threading the end.195 of the shaft 193 into the threaded axial bore of the plug 74 untilthe wedge-shaped end 189 is in tight mating engagement with thewedge-shaped end 75 of the plug 74. When this has occurred, there can beno axial movement between the plug 74 and the end 189 of shaft 186, and,thus, the handle 191 is rotated in a direction such that the plug can bewithdrawn from the by-pass passageway 72 through the by-pass port 70into the enlarged bore 161 in the collar 159. Gas can then flow throughthe by-pass port 70 into the line 150 up to the outlet fitting 38. Thebleed valve 157 is opened just prior to removal of the plug 74 so thatas gas flows to the fitting 38, and air in the line 150 is expelled toatmosphere after air is expelled from the line 150, the bleed valve 157is closed and the operator can then observe the gauge 158 to make surethat pressure in the line has reached a predetermined desired pressure.The valve in the outlet fitting 38 is then moved from its first positionto the intermediate position Where there can be flow of gas both throughthe meter 20 to the service line 42 and through the by-pass line 150 tothe service line 42. After the valve in the outlet 38 has been moved tothe intermediate position and it is determined that gas under pressureis flowing through the line 150 to the service pipe 4 2, the valve inthe outlet setting 38 is then moved to the position where it blocks flowfrom the meter 20 and permits only How from the by-pass line 156 to theservice pipe 42.

Then the stop 46 is moved to its fully closed position to block flow ofgas from the riser 44 to the meter 20 and then the meter is removed fromthe meter bar 32 and repaired or replaced. During the entire operationmentioned above, the operator has constant indication of the pressure inthe line 150 and thus if he notes the pressure dropping below apredetermined amount, he will know that it is necessary to relight pilotlights in the dwelling. However, this is usually not necessary as thechangeover accomplished as described above avoids any pressure surges orpressure drops to the service pipe 42.

After the meter 20 has been repaired and it, or a new meter, has beenreconnected to the meter bar 32, service through the meter isre-established by following substantially the reverse procedure.However, in re-establishing service, it is necessary to purge air fromthe supply line 40 upstream from the stop 46 and from the meter 20- andthis is accomplished by opening a bleed (200) on the outlet fitting 38in the manner described fully in the Mueller copending application, Ser.No. 229,704, nOW United States Patent No. 3,185,570, issued June 8,1965, or in the copending Leopold and Smith application, Ser. No.331,213, now US. Patent No. 3,272,009.

It will thus be seen that the objects of this invention have been fullyand effectively accomplished by the bypass type meter setting describedabove and illustrated in the drawings. However, it will be realized thatthe foregoing specific embodiments have been shown and described onlyfor the purposes of illustrating the principles of this invention andare subject to extensive changes without departure from such principles.Therefore, the terminology used throughout the specification is for thepurposes of description and not limitation, the scope of the inventionbeing defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an outlet fitting for a fluid line comprising:

a boss having a bore therein,

said bore being interiorly threaded,

a tamper-proof closure plug having exterior threads thereon forreception in the interiorly threaded bore within said boss,

said closure plug further having an outwardly facing wedge-shapeddriving end defined by intersecting planar surfaces,

said closure plug further having an axial bore opening at least to thewedge-shaped end,

said body having retaining means within said axial bore, and

a special tool for inserting and removing said plug,

said special tool comprising at least an inner and an outer memberrotatable relative to each other,

said inner member having means thereon for insertion into said axialbore in said plug,

said insertion means being capable of cooperative engagement with andretention by said retaining means in said axial bore,

said outer member having a wedge-shaped driving head complementary tothe wedge-shaped driving end of said plug whereby when said inner memberof said special tool is inserted into said axial bore of said plug andsecured in a retentive position, said wedgeshaped driving head of saidouter member mates with the wedge-shaped driving end of said plug toprevent axial movement between said wedge-shaped driving head of saidouter member and said wedgeshaped driving end of said plug, therebypreventing rotary slippage of said special tool relative to said plugand providing rotary driving contact so that said plug may be insertedor removed from the fluid line by rotating said outer member.

'2. The combination as claimed in claim .1 in which said planar surfacesof said plug have an inciuded angle therebetween in the order of 3. Thecombination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said retaining means in saidaxial bore includes interior threads and wherein said insertion means onsaid inner member includes exterior threads for cooperating with saidinterior threads of said axial bore of said body.

4. In combination, a tamper-proof plug for closing an interiorlythreaded fluid line,

said plug comprising a body having exterior threads for reception in theinteriorly threaded opening of the fluid line,

said body having an outer Wedge-shaped driving end and an axial boreopening at least to the Wedgeshaped end,

said body having retaining means within said axial bore,

a special tool for inserting and removing said plug,

and

said special tool comprising at least an inner and .an

outer member rotatable relative to each other,

said inner member having means thereon for insertion into said axialbore in said plug,

said insertion means being capable of cooperative engagement with andretention by said retaining means in said axial bore,

said outer member having a wedge-shaped driving head complementary tothe wedge-shaped driving end of said plug whereby when said inner memberof said special tool is inserted into said axial bore of said plug andsecured in a retentive position, said Wedgeshaped-driving head of saidouter member mates with the wedge-shaped driving end of said plug toprevent axial movement between said wedge-shaped driving head of saidouter member and said wedgeshaped driving end of said plug, therebypreventing rotary slippage of said special tool relative to said plugand providing rotary driving contact so that said plug may be insertedor removed from the fluid line by rotating said outer member.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein the said means includesinterior threads in said bore.

'6. The combination as claimed in claim 4 wherein said Wedge-shapeddriving end of said body is defined by intersecting planar surfaces.

*7. The combination as claimed in claim 6 in which the included anglebetween the intersecting planar surfaces is in the order of 120.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,361,059 12/1920 Hoff 8545 X2,770,998 11/1956 Schwartz 85-45 2,964,290 '12/1960 Mueller 25129'1FOREIGN PATENTS 943,521 12/ 1963 Great Britain.

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

D. R. MATTHEWS, Assistant Examiner.

